Southwoods pulls away, leads by 23

BACOLOD CITY—Turning up the heat some more, Manila Southwoods is threatening to make its chase of PAL Interclub history a veritable walk in the park.

The Carmona-based squad’s young guns again delivered on a demanding day at Binitin on Friday, with Kristoffer Arevalo shooting a two-under-par 68 worth 38 points to highlight a second round 139 that opened up a 23-point bulge over Luisita in the centerpiece Regular Men’s Championship.

And just when everyone would think that Southwoods can start taking it easy from here, nonplaying captain Thirdy Escano wants the death knell to come Saturday when the third round is played also at the ultra-tight, tree-lined layout in Murcia town.

“Coming up with my strongest five is a possibility,” Escano told the Inquirer when asked if he would opt for two balanced teams to play the final two rounds. “If we can pull away further [from the pack] in the third round, we will do so.

“We would want the final round to be pressure-free if possible,” he added after Southwoods moved within 36 holes of completing the tournament’s first “four-peat.”

Getting 34s from Eddie Bagtas and Benjie Sumulong, the Luisitans clung to second spot after pooling 128 for 256 with Canlubang staying in third another six points behind after a 131 despite getting a tournament best 41 points from Jolo Magcalayo.

Carl Corpus got Southwoods going by checking in first with a 35, with defending individual champion Tom Kim accounting for 33 like Aidric Chan and the squad throwing away the 29 of Paolo Wong.

“The golf gods still need to smile on us in the last two days,” he said.